Mounting clamp



R. WNS TR'OBEL MOUNTING CLAMP Jan. 26, 1954 Filed Nov. 20. 1951 Inve nbor; Pudol b a ph \A/. Sbrdbel,

His Attorngg.

Patented Jan. 26, 1954 MOUNTING CLAMP Rudolph W. Strobel, Lenox,

General Electric Company,

New York Mass, assignor to a corporation of Application November 20, 1951, Serial N 0. 257,369

' 9 Claims. 24-243) This invention relatesto mounting means for connecting electrical terminals, contacts and the like to a support therefor. More particularly, the

invention is an improvement over the connecting or mounting clamp disclosed in the copending application of Sydney R. Smith, Jr., Serial No. 257,317, filed November 20, 1951, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

The single one piece U-shaped clamp disclosed in the Smith application is suitable for those applications where thesupport to which the piece is applied has clamping surfaces substantially parallel to the inside opposite mating surfaces of the legsof the U-clamp and where the distance between the clamping surfaces of the support or the thickness thereof is only slightly less than the distance between the inside opposite mating surfaces of the clamp. 'However, in the case of insulating supports of porcelain material, the permissible manufacturing tolerances of necessity are quite liberal so that the manufactured spacing between the outstandinglegs of metallic U-shaped clamps of one piece construction must be made relatively large to slide easily over all clamping surfaces of porcelains, both large and small. Consequently, when the clearance, before clamping, between legs of the one piece clamp and the support to which it was to be clamped happen to be excessive, only the free ends of the clamp legs were drawn in against the porcelain as the clamping nut was drawn up on the clamping bolt because the rigidity of the clamp where the legs are joined by a cross piece prevented the portion of the legs intermediate the cross piece and the free ends of the legs from being drawn in sufliciently. In other words, the clamping engagement between the porcelain and the clamp amounted to an undesirable lineor edge engagement rather than a desirable surface engagement. Nevertheless, as pointed out in the above-mentioned copending application, the general idea of bolting hardware to a porcelain support in itself is a desirable feature provided the electrical creep or strike distance between hardware at different potential can be held at a suitable maximum value which, of course, was one of the features resulting from thedistinctive configuration of the insulator disclosed and claimed in the Smith application.

Consequently, it would be desirable to retain the bolting feature provided a clamp could be furnished which would overcome the disadvantages inherent in the rigid one-piece U-shaped clamp.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a connecting or mounting clamp which will adjust itself to the surfaces .of which it is applied or clamped;

the support to It is another object of my invention to provide a U-shaped clamp of either two-piece or threepiece construction which is self-aligning in that the elements of the clamp will separately adjust themselves to engage the contour of the support clamping surfaces.

It is a further object of my invention to provide clamps of either two piece or three piece construction which will clamp to all support clamping surfaces by distributing the clamping pressure over a plane irrespective of variations in thickness resulting from reasonable manufacturing variables of porcelain.

The invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fused disconnecting switch or cutout embodying mounting clamps of the invention and showing the switch in the circuit closed position; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of the elements of a three-piece clamp'in perspective With two of the elements in assembled relationship; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the three-piece clamp in perspective; Fig. 5 is an end elevation view of a two-piece clamp and Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the clamp of Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 the support insulator ID. the bracket l I including the contacts and other elements mounted thereon, the hook-shaped bearing member [2 including the contacts and other elements also mounted thereon, the hanger arm 13 and the conwith an aperture such as -transversely therethrough and a portion 2| with tact bridging means 52 are identical to those illustrated and fully described in the above-mentioned copending Smith application and, therefore, constitute no part of this invention. Insulator"), however, does serve as a typical application to better emphasize the advantages of the clamps of the instant application since in clamping the bracket II, the hanger arm I 3 and the bearing member [2, the webs l4 extending axially or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insulator I0 and to which the clamp is applied have clamping surfaces 15 and I6 which are not parallel but which converge outwardly from the core portion ll of the insulator as better illustrated by Fig. 2.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, one of the pieces of the three-piece clamp of my invention comprises a member l8 having a portion 19 the circular opening 20 an elongated slot 22 transversely therethrough while the other twopieces comprise plate mem- .bers 24 and 21 respectively having tongue portions opening of the Y short leg 21 "thereof, as

t ivly short leg apertures I -25 and 2 8 through the slot, may also be aligned posite converging surface 15 thereof summon, '31 and 32 are allin alignment. The threeelementsof the clamp are next boltedtogether and to the web by means of a boltts :and a nut td 'threaded thereon. to protect the chool: transmitted 'through the :metal rclamps in is fixed so as to be substantially greater than the j distance between the clamping surfaces of any sup-port to which the clamp may be applied. Tongue portion 25 of plate member 2 2 extends transverse to a face 26 thereof, as better illustrated by Fig. l, while tongue portion M which is longer than the tongue 25 also extends transverse to a face 29 of plate member 2'1. which will become apparent hereinafter, each tongue por't-ion has a' thickness less than the width diner-tunes 31i "it-l, similar in'siae to the ap'erture 2 in u-shaped member 7 T6 are respectively provided in plates 2 i -an'd z'l and so located therein "that the vertical distance A between the center of the aperture t l and the upper-surface oi? tonguetfl is approximately equal to"or-slightly g-raterthan the distance B between the ce'nter'of aperture 30 and lower edge of plate 24,' wh'ile the vertical distances between the upper surfaces of thetongues to the aperturesare equal.

lis more clearly illustrated by Fig. 2, hanger arm 13 is welded or otherwise fixedly connected to the id-shaped member 48 of the three-piece c'larnp, andbraclret "H and-bearing member H are likewise respectively connected to this member of other three piece clamps.

In the course of mounting one of my clamps on a support, such as'aweb portion i ofsupport insulator it having an aperture -32 transversely :therethrough, "plate 24 is 'hrst the Cl-shaped member adjacent the melatively shown in Fig. 4, and is thenmovedso t'hat' -the tongue portion -=extends "through the slot @2 as-shown in Fig. 2 while the face?!) of plate 1 1 is placed in engagement with the'ia'ce o'f plate'i lopposite their-ace .55 thereof 'with*therelatively long tongue 28 extending under the lower edge'of =r5l'ate24andetlso through slot 'id. Because of 'theequality in distance between the tongue portions and apertures in plates 2% and 2? as pointed out hereinb'eiore, and the difference in distancebetween thetongue portion and the aper tore-or plate fi'l -"-compared with the lower edg-e and aperture of plate -24, it will boobs-owed that the *aperturesiill andt'l maybe aligned-as better illustrate dby'the upper portion of Fig. S-showing the assembled "relationship of plates 24 and removed from the "U -shaped "member inthe interest creamy. flo'weveig-slot 22 is soloc'atcd in'rela- H of channel member I18 that "and 3-1, after insertion of tongues "with aperture 20. Thereafter, the clamp, with the tongues Hand 23 extendingthrough slot .22, is-moved or slipped over support web M :50 that leg "I 9 of cha'nnel member l 8 will be adjacent one *of ithe converging surfaces It, for example, of

the web and -thelplate 21 will be adjacent the opand theaper- To serve as Ia cushion porcelain web M from mechanical For a purpose positioned within service, so-called shakeproof or metal washers 35 and 38 having resilient or springing characteristics may first be interposed respectively between surface 16 and leg is and between surface l5 and plate 2'! with the bolt 33 passing through the washers as illustrated in Fig. 2. Prior to final drawing up of out 34 onbolt 33., means such as the end of escrow driver maybe inserted in'the space 3'! (Fig. 3) between tongues 25 and 28 to force the edges thereof in engagement respectively with opposite edges 38 and 39 of slot 22.

From an inspection of Fig. 2, which illustrates the clamp with the nut tightly drawn up on the threads of "the bolt so that the clamp is firmly clamped to the support, it will be observed that this clamp is self-aligning and that the elements thereof are parallel to or have adapted themselves to the surfaces 15 and I6 notwithstanding the fact that the surfaces are not parallel. Furthermore, lit can b'e seen that the :same clamp to the hanger arm 4 3 and tending to rotate the clamp about the bolt axis as :a center, will snot only be taken by member 18 but will a'lso 'be taken up partially by one of the plates or 21 depending upon the direction of rotation.

The above recited advantageous results will be realized regardless of the configuration of tongues 25and 28 in plates 24 andi'l. However, tongue 25 is provided with an ear portion 41) 6 extending transverse to the direction of projection of the tongue -from the face 260f the plate so as to define "a' notch or slot ll in "the outer "edge of .the tongue while tongue 28 isa1so provided with an ear portion 42. defining a notch 3 therein. =In addition, the width opening of "elongated slot 2 2 us not only provided :larger than the thickness of each tongue but :is provided so as to be equal to or slightly in excess of the sum of the thicknesses of both tongues '25 and 18. Upon assembly, the tongue 25 .is met inserted through the slot :22 and moved laterallyand upwardly so that notch 41 therein engages edge 33 or the =slot and the upper surface of the tongue engages the upper longitudinaledge of the slot. Then tongue 23 is in- *serted --under tongue 25 and through the slot 2! interlocking engagement with each other prevents the tendency of the slot 22 moving rout of engagement with the tongues :upon the rim- :position of some ibending forces on "the hard- :ware such "as a force "on the hanger arm 13.. iior example, parallel itothe'rbolt axis.

As part of my :invention, I shave also illustrated :in Figs. :5 and .6 :a two-piece :clamp @comprising a channel eoryrU-shaped member "44 .hav-

' -ing a leg or flange portion with anaperture A6 transversely therethrough and a relatively 1 short leg or flange 41 having an elongated slot 48 transversely therethrough. The other piece of the clamp comprises a plate member 49 havwill be apparent to those skilled in the art without further elaboration that the elements of this clamp will also adjust themselves to the surfaces of the support to which it is applied.

a While I have shown and described particular embodiments of my invention, it will be observed that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scopeof my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A three piece clamp comprising a channelshaped member having a leg with an aperture transversely therethrough and a relatively short leg with an elongated slot therethrough, a plate member having an aperture transversely therethrough aligned with said aperture in said channel-shaped member and a tongue portion projecting transverse to a face of said plate member extending through said slot and in engagement with an edge thereof, a second plate member having an aperture therethrough aligned with the apertures in said channel and said first-mentioned plate member and having a tongue portion projecting transverse to a face of said plate extending through said slot and in engagement with the opposite edge thereof, and bolt means extending through said apertures.

2. A three piece clamp comprising a U-shaped member having a leg with an aperture transversely therethrough and'a relatively short leg with an elongated slot transversely therethrough, a plate member positioned between said apertured leg of said U-shaped member and the slottedleg thereof, a second plate member positioned between said apertured leg of said U-shaped member and said first-mentioned plate member, said plate members respectively having apertures transversely therethrough in alignment with said'aper'ture in said apertured leg of said U-shaped member and tongue portions extending respectively transverse to faces of said plate members through said slot and respectively in engagement with opposite edges thereof to limit the rotation about the common axis through said apertures of said plates and said U-shaped member with respect to each other, said tongues respectively having ear portions extending therefrom transverse to the direction of extension thereof through said slot and defining notches for interlocking engagement respectively with said opposite edges of said slot to limit movement in a direction parallel to said common axis of said plates and said U- shaped member with respect to each other, and fastening means extending through said apertures.

3. Clamp means for mounting an element on a support having a portion defining a pair of versely through said 'n'el-shaped member through said slot "clampingisurfaces projectingtherefrom and an aperture extendingtbetween said surfaces transportion comprising, a chanhaving a leg with an aperture therethrough disposed adjacent one of said clamping surfaces of said support with the aperture thereinin alignment with the aperture in said leg and a relatively short leg with an elongated slot therethrough, a plate member havingan aperture transversely therethrough disposed between said relatively short leg of said chan nel-shaped membenand theother of said clamping surfaces of said support with the aperture in said plate in alignment withthe apertures in said support. and said channel-shaped member, said plate member having a tongue portion projecting transverse to a face thereof extending through said slot and in engagement with an edge thereof, a second plate member disposed intermediate said other clamping surface of said support and said first-mentioned plate member,

said second-mentioned plate member having an aperture therein in alignment with the apertures in said support, said channel-shaped member and said first-mentioned plate and having a transversely projecting tongue portion extending and in engagement with the opposite edge thereof, a bolt having threads ad.- jacent an end thereof extending through the apertures in said support, said platemembers and said channel-shaped member,. and a nut in threaded engagement with said threads to maintain said mounting means on said support, said element being fixedly connected to the portion of said channel-shaped member interconnecting said legs.

4. Clamp means for mounting an, element on a support having a web portion projecting therefrom and defining a .pair of clamping surfaces with an aperture extending transversely through member and the other of said clamping sur- 7 faces of said web with the aperture in said plate in alignment with the aperture in said web and said channel-shaped member, said plate member having a tongue portion projecting trans verse to a face thereof extending through said slot and in engagement with an edge thereof, a second plate member having an aperture transversely therethrough disposed between said other clamping surface of said web and said firstmentioned plate member and having a face in engagement therewith, said aperture in said second plate being in alignment with the apertures in said web, said channel-shaped member and said first mentioned plate, said second mentioned plate member having a tongue portion projecting transversely to said face in engagement with said first-mentioned plate extending through said slot and in engagement with the opposite edge thereof, a Washer of resilient material with the aperture therein in alignment with the aperture in said web interposed between and in engagement with said web and the leg of said channel-shaped member having the aperture therein, a second washer of resilient material with the aperture web therein in alignment with said web interposed hetween and in encasement with said other clamping surface of and said second plate member, :a bolt havin threads adjacent an end thereof extendin through the apertures in washers, web, channel-shaped and plate members, and a :nut inthreaded engagement with said threads to maintain said mounting means on said web, said element "being fixedly connected to the-portion of said channel-shaped member interconnecting said legs.

5. A three piece clamp comprising a U-shaped member having one leg slotted and shorter than the other leg, .a plate between said legs having a tongue projecting into the slot of said one leg, another plate between said other :leg and said first mentioned plate having a tongue projecting into the slot of said one leg, said tongues each engaging .an edge of said slot and lying in substantially the same plane, and means for fastening said other leg and said second mentioned plate in :flat bearing engagement with :a flat surfaced mounti r .yznemberl .6. In a three piece clamp as in claim ;5, wherein the portions of said tongues engaging the edges of said slot each have an ear formed thereon, said rears engagin the outer surface of said one leg.

1'7. A clamp a ii -shaped member having two legs interconnected ,by :a base portion, one of said legs being shorter than the other of said legs, said shorter deg haying a slottherein extending general-l3 parallel to said base por -tion, a first plate positioned between said legs,

said first plate a tongue extending therefrom into said slot and abuttin an end edge of said slot, a second plate positioned between said first plate and other :leg said second plate having a tongue extending therefrom into said slot andenga-geable :with an opposite edge of saidvslot, ssaid first and second plates superposed with respect to each other, and said tongues lying in substantialiy the same plane, said tongues when lying in said same plane having a combined width not greater than the length of said slot, said :tongues when superposed with respect to each other having a combined thickness not greater than the width of said slot, the portions ofsa'id tongues engaging said end edges of said slot having ears formed thereon, said ears extending opposite to each other beyond said end edges of said slot and engaging the outer surface of one leg, and fastenin means extending through ali ned apertures in said plates and other leg.

v,8. ,A clamp comprising a member havin a le portion, -a first :plate positioned opposite :to :said

leg portion and spaced time oi said member having, an elongated slot 'therethnough, said first plate having a tongue extend-ins therefrom into said slot and abuttin an end edgethereof, a second plate positioned between said leg portion and said first pl te an spaced from said leg portion, said second plate having :a tongue extending therefrom into said slot and abutting an opposite end edge of said slot, said plates superposed with respect to each other and said tongues lying in substantially the same plane, said tongues when lying in said same plane having a combined width :not greater than the length of said slot, said tongues when superposed with respect to each other having a combined thickness not greater than the width of said I slot, the portions of said tongues abutting said end edges of'said slot having ears formed thereon, said ears extending opposite to each other beyond said endwedges of said slot, and means for fastening said clamp about a webshaped support portion whereby said leg portion and said second plate will engage opposite sides of saidweb shaped S pport portion.

9. A clamp comprising a member having a leg portion, a first plate positioned opposite to said leg portion and spaced therefrom, another portion of said member having an elongated slot therein, said first piate having a tongue extending therefrom and abutting an end edge of said slot, a

second plate positioned opposite to said leg porticnand spaced therefrom, said second plate having a. tongue extending therefrom into said slot and abutting an opposite and edge of said slot, said tongues lying in'substantiallythe same plane and having .acombhed width not greater than the length of said slot, said tongues when superposed with respect to each other having a combined thickness not greater than the width of said slot, the portions of said tongues abutting said end edges of said slot having ears formed thereon, said ears extending opposite to each other and beyond said end edges, and means for fastening said clamp about another member whereby said another member is disposed between said leg portion and plates.

- RUDOLPH W. STROBEL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 548,866 Devoe Mar. 14, 1882 834,537 Riggs Oct. 20, 1906 71,735,212 Pawsat Nov. 12, 1929 2,536,233 Sklarek Jan. 2, 1951 therefrom, another por- 

